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Human serum albumin nanotubes with esterase activity

T. Komatsu, T. Sato, and C. Böttcher – 2012

A nanocylindrical wall structure was obtained by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of poly-L-arginine (PLA) and human serum albumin (HSA) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning force microscopy (SFM), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). SEM and SFM measurements of a lyophilized powder of (PLA/HSA)3 nanotubes yielded images of round, chimney-like architectures with approximately 100 nm wall thickness. Cryo-TEM images of the hydrated sample revealed that the tube walls are composed of densely packed HSA molecules. Moreover, when small-angle X-ray scattering was used to characterize the individual PLA and HSA components in aqueous solutions, maximum diameters of approximately 28 nm and 8 nm were obtained, respectively. These values indicate the minimum thickness of wall layers consisting of PLA and HSA. It can also be concluded from SEM as well as from cryo-TEM images that the protein cylinders are considerably swollen in the presence of water. Furthermore, HSA retains esterase activity if assembled in nanotubes, as indicated by measurements of para-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis under semi-physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 22?degrees C). The enzyme activity parameters (Michaelis constant, Km, and catalytic constant, kcat) were comparable to those of free HSA.

Title
Human serum albumin nanotubes with esterase activity
Author
T. Komatsu, T. Sato, and C. Böttcher
Date
2012
Identifier
DOI: 10.1002/asia.201100606
Citation
Chem. Asian J 2012, 7, 201 - 206
Language
eng
Type
Text